TD Banknorth to relocate from Rotary to mall property

The Airport Rotary in Hyannis will be missing one of its banks this time next year if a projected construction schedule is able to adhere to its course through the permitting process.

Paul Gauvin

PAUL GAUVIN PHOTO CONTENTIOUS BUS STOP – This stop in front of Blanchard’s Liquors on Route 28 in Hyannis would be moved onto Cape Cod Mall property, according to a plan by TD Banknorth. The company is planning to build a new branch on the site.

The Airport Rotary in Hyannis will be missing one of its banks this time next year if a projected construction schedule is able to adhere to its course through the permitting process.

TD Banknorth cleared one hurdle last week on its venture to relocate its Airport Rotary branch – on airport property – to the site of the Blanchard Liquors Store on Route 28, on property owned by the Cape Cod Mall and across the street from the Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank.

The move is prompted by the proposed multi-million dollar plan to construct a new airport terminal and access roads that will require the bank to vacate the property it leases from the airport, which flanks the rotary.

TD Banknorth, with a major office downtown on Main Street, plans to demolish the 4,400-square-foot liquor store and replace it with a 3,000-square-foot, one-story bank building with drive-up service, new parking layout, landscape, drainage and utility and lighting improvements, said attorney Michael Ford, representing the bank.

Engineer Joshua Swerling of Bohler Engineering Co., crossed his fingers when asked if the construction timetable of breaking ground next spring and completing the project by the fall could be met.

By the end of the hearing before Site Plan Review, the project had Building Commissioner Tom Perry’s OK pending a few conditions that he said could be handled administratively and not require a further public appearance before the town’s site plan panel. The panel includes representatives from fire districts, the health department, town engineer, building commissioner and growth management department.

One of the town’s conditions involves a bus stop on Route 28 in front of the liquor store. The town wanted the bank to accommodate the bus stop with an off-road area in front of the bank, on its property, complete with shelter to keep the bus from stopping directly on the highway.

But Ford explained the bus problem was being discussed with representatives of Cape Cod Mall, which wants the bus loop into, and to stop inside, the mall property. The Cape Cod Regional Transportation Authority, which operates the buses, has a concern, Ford said, about being able to maintain its schedule if the bus has to get off Route 28 to travel through the mall property.

Assuming the bus does go through the mall property, Ford said the town wants either landscaping or a sidewalk to front the bank, an issue that will be decided when the plan goes before the zoning board of appeals in search of a minor modification. “The appeals board will help decide that question,” Ford said.

Ford also answered a list of conditions put forth by the site plan review panel during an earlier hearing that included an increased landscape buffer, elimination of a curb cut, implementation of some “green” building aspects, sewer design, storm water drainage to protect a nearby pond, removal of a pumping station and other engineering issues that have either already been modified or will be.

There was a concern over angled parking on part of the lot close to drive-up window lanes that might be too tight for the fire department ladder truck in the event of fire.

But Swerling, the engineer, said the area would be re-measured and, if necessary, would remove a few of the parking spaces that would be used for employee parking. In addition, Ford said, signage is being revised to conform to town regulations.

Meanwhile, Blanchard’s, embroiled in relocation issues of its own with the town regarding a proposed move to the former Knights of Columbus property father west on Route 28, continues to operate across from the Cape Cod Five. The company’s plan to open in a new building near the Centerville line was referred by the town to the Cape Cod Commission for review as a Development of Regional Impact.

Cape Cod Commission planner Phil Dascombe said Blanchard’s has requested a one-month extension, to Jan. 9, for completion of the agency’s review. He said the application is incomplete pending submission of a traffic study and elevations for the new building.

By press time, Blanchard’s owner Don Corey had not returned calls for comment.

Perry told the engineer and Ford to work out the outstanding issues and submit final plans to be dealt with administratively. The plan goes before the zoning board of appeals Dec. 10 for approval of a modification to a prior Cape Cod Commission DRI mall agreement, where it is expected to be approved.